Sidney Barnes - Standing On Solid Ground

I tremble with unmitigated pride as finally, after eight long years, we have a video, a proper beautifully shot video, to my unequalled BIGGEST Northern Soul record of this decade. The stunning Sidney Barnes, and the monster song we wrote together in 2001, "Standing On Solid Ground". Sidney Barnes was an important part of early Motown, being part of their New York operation, with his partner George Kerr. He recorded solo stuff such as "Standing In The Safety Zone", which didn't come out till years later, and became a cult northern Soul favourite. In 1964, on the V.I.P. label, he was the lead singer of The Seranaders, who recorded the Motown classic, "If Your Heart Says Yes". But it's his two Northern Soul smashes that he became most well known for, "You'lll Always Be In Style", on Red Bird records, and "I Hurt On The Other Side", on the Blue Cat label. My 2001 production of "Standing On Solid Ground", however, became his biggest Northern record ever. Sidney was born in Welch, West Virginia in 1941 and grew up in Roanoke, Virginia. After forming several vocal groups in Junior High and High School (while living in Washington, D.C.) with school mates including a young Marvin Gaye, Van McCoy and Herb Feimster (of "Peaches and Herb" fame), Sidney felt ready for the big time. In order to increase his chances of success, the Barnes family moved to Newark, New Jersey - as close to New York City as they wanted to be. Sidney formed The Seranaders and landed a recording contract with Riverside records. Their only release on Riverside was a song called "Adios My Love". Then 1962. Sidney heard through the music grapevine that Berry Gordy was opening a branch office of Motown records and Jobete Music in New York. Sidney, always the leader, was knocking on the new Motown office door just as the desk and furniture was arriving. After auditioning for Berry Gordy, the Serenaders were signed to a contract and flown to Detroit. There they found themselves in the now legendary Detroit Hitsville recording Studio, with many of the early Motown stars. To make a long story short - Sidney and George Kerr became head songwriters, producers and talent scouts for Gordy's New York office.Over the years he released so many records, joined the Rotary Connection, on Chess, and sang lead on classic disco group Arpeggio. I tracked down Sidney to re-record "I Hurt On The Other Side" for our Strange World Of Northern Soul project, and then two years later we cut Standing On Solid Ground Together, never dreaming it would finally open the way on the Northern Soul scene for artists to record something new instead of just forty year old records.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Northern-Soul
• Motown
• Detroit
• Anthem
• Blackpool-Mecca
• Soul-Singers
• Classic
• Sixties
• Motorcity
• Centre-City
• Soul
• Male-Singers
• Classic-Soul
• Male-Soul-Singers
• Retro
• Male-Groups
• Uptempo
• Sixties-Soul
• Male-Soul
• Wigan-Casino
• Stomper
• Soul-Groups
• Hitsville

[smallframe66]

I was privileged to be in the studio when this was recorded, and why I prefer the original mix of the song that never came out (maybe you could put it out Ian?) I was honoured to watch two talented song writers work off each other, with ideas from the others in the studio like Derek Pearson who when Ian asked for a title, came up with solid ground.

Although the backing track was already recorded, it took a mere 4 hours to write and record the song, A lot like Sid did with George Clinton

[IanLevine]

There was no original mix other than this one. What you heard in the studio was an unmixed backing track, which didn't get mixed until Sidney's vocals were added to the original multi-track recording.

[Phantom95music]

:O THIS SONG IS TRUE NORTHERN SOUL BRILLIANCE :D love this song :D

[wisconsinelaine32]

I love this recording! I got a copy of it from Val Shively, but didn't realize it was modern. I found Sidney's website and e-mailed him, asking where the song had come from. It was later on that a friend introduced me to Ian Levine, via the Four Vandals & Venicia Wilson. I love this music! Ian Levine is a genius!

[MrWigancasino1]

thank you ian wigan casino will live foreever

[unique74muzik]

magnificent!!!

[stcar2]

absolutey fantastic, well done ian levine

[skiinginthesnow]

just fantastic from an old master

[yam400e]

a legend nice one ian . i remember you from the levinthian fly days keep on keeping on what about feet start moving being put on ??

[veejayone1]

Sid, this is Vendetta. Sharon just sent me a recent picture of your dad that prompted me to come look for him on you tube. HOW COOL IS THIS! Love to you and the family. find me on myspace.

[TheAndyford]

one of the best sounds ever. how can you not want to dance when you hear this